Locomotive pilot, bumper, deck plate, and coupler structure



Jan. 7, 1936. F. H. EINWAECHTER, JR I 2,027,269

LOCOMOTIVE PILOT, BUMPER, DECK PLATE, AND COUPLER STRUCTURE Fil ed Dec. 6, 1934 4 SheetS She'et -1 mum! WW1 mm 1936- F. H. EINWAECHTER. JR 2,027,269 LOCOMOTIVEVPILOT, BUMPER, DECK PLATE, AND COUPLER STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 gig.

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Gum M Jan. 7, 1936- F. H. EINWAECHTER, JR Q v LOCOMOTIVE PILOT, BUMPER, DECK PLATE, AND COUPLER STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 6, 1934, 4 Sheets--Sheer. 3

Jan. 7, 1936. F. H. EINWAECHTER, JR 2,027,269

LOCOMOTIVE PILOT, BUMPER, DECK PLATE, AND COUPLER STRUCTURE 7 Filed Dec. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1. 45 x? f 6 Z0 28 A9 7 60 N a 29% 26 p: -66 47 v 2 4 0 J6 I O 36 0 'J'a'a uuuuo'vuuuuuuuuuvuv I Patented Jan. 7, 1936 l LOCOMOTIVE PILOT, BUMPER, DECK PLATE,

7 AND COUPLER STRUCTURE Frederick H. Einwaechtcr; Jr., 7 West Halcthorpe, Md.

Application December 6, 1934, Serial No. 756,351

' 6 Claims. (01. 213-4) The conventional front end pilot and coupler structure now in general use on locomotives, and embodying features required by Federal law, to wit, front deck plate, bumper,'coupler bracket, coupler, pilot and uncoupling lever, is expensive to apply and maintain and as generally applied is not suitable for streamlined or other locomotives where a pleasing or smooth front end is desired.

The parts applied in the conventional or general manner are easily damaged in case objects are struck, especially along the roadway, and it is then impossible to couple to a locomotive or car. Also in such cases the air hose, cocks, etc., are liable to be broken off and the air brakes rendered inoperative. Furthermore, in such conventional or general applications, it is diflicult to maintain the long overhanging coupler and bracket the proper distance from the rail in accordance with I. C. C. requirements, and frequent adjustments are necessary.

The main object of my invention is to provide a pilot and coupler structure which overcomes and obviates those objections to conventional structures of this type, which is not expensive to install or maintain, which fully encloses and protects the coupler and hose connections when not in use, and which is suitable for use on any type of locomotive or car, particularly streamlined or other locomotives where a pleasing or smooth front end is desired. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of coupler and housing therefor and novel means for mounting the coupler,

. whereby it may be projected for use and retracted within its housing for protection when not in use.

With these and other objects in view, the in- 3 vention consists of the features of construction,

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through the structure showing in dotted lines the coupler projected.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 6 and '7 are detail views of the uncoupling lever and lever arm.

Fig. 8 is a view of the structure showing coupler'in retracted position.

, Figs. 9 and 10 are, respectively,'a. plan view, with parts broken away, and a front elevation of the structure, showing the housing door open and the coupler swung outward for use. 0

' In the practical embodiment of my invention as disclosed herein, I provide a metal pilot beam or bumper and coupler support and housing I, which is suitably secured to the front of the engine framing 2, and which comprises as a unitary organization the pilot beam, the deck plate and the coupler bracket or housing, whereby a strong, durable, simplified and inexpensive type of structure is produced. In the specific form shown, the element I consists of a hollow, box-like or chambered central portion 3, having end extensions 4, cooperating therewith to form the pilot beam, the top wall 5 of portion 3 comprising the deck plate, and said portion 3 adapted to form a mount and housing for the coupler 6 and housing or receiver for the air and steam line coupler hoses and 8 and associated cocks or other fixtures of the air and heating fluid line systems.

The body or housing portion 3 is open at its front portion and is provided therein with a partition 9 extending in a forward and rearward direction and dividing the housing into compartments in and II, adapted respectively to receive the coupler and the hose connections when in retracted position or not in use. The coupler 6 is mounted for swinging'movement into and out of its chamber or compartment III on a vertical axis, and in the following manner. The housing is provided at its base with an upstanding circular pofton I2 the upper surface of which forms a supporting table. This table carries an upstanding annular bearing boss l3, and the deck plate or top plate of the housing is provided with a similar downwardly extending bearing boss I. These bearing bosses are arranged in axial alinementand have arranged therein bearing bushings l5. Between these bushings is received the pivot portion or eye It on the coupler shank, whi h i also provided with a bearing bushing H, which bushings are adapted for the reception of the coupling pin [8 whereby the coupler is mounted to swing outwardly and inwardly between its retracted position, in which it is enclosed within its compartment l0, and its projected position for use, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, in which it exthe 5 PATENT OFFICE d piers in the travel of the locomotive.

tends outwardly, centrally and forwardly through the forward opening in the portion 3.

The table I2 is adapted to support the weight of the coupler and to relieve such weight, especially when the coupler is projected, from the pivot pin, thus rendering the coupler easily movable from operative to inoperative positions, and vice versa. This table is provided with a wear plate or liner or adjusting plate I9 which is removably anchored against shifting movement by means of openings therein engaging studs or bolts 26 in the casting, so that wear or liner plates of difierent degrees of thickness for adjusting purposes may be employed and when worn to a predetermined extent or when locomotive settles through wear on parts may be readily removed and replaced by other liners. Loose liners or washers 2| and 22 are also disposed between the respective bearing bosses and the bearing eye of the coupler to space the eye as desired from said bosses and to regulate the height of the coupler with respect to the track surface. It will be'understood, for example, that by remove ing or decreasing the thickness of liners 22 and decreasing the thickness of the topliner or liners 2| the level of the coupler may be lowered, and it will be readily understood that by removing or decreasing the thickness of the top liner or liners 2| and correspondingly increasing the thickness of the bottom liner or liners 22 the level of the coupler may be raised. In these operations, of course, the thickness of the liner or wear plate I9 is also governed to suit the other liner adjustments. This'construction provides for the-ready and convenient application and removal of liners or wear elements to decrease the wear and tear upon the bumper or deck plate structure, to enable the height of the coupler to be varied in a simple and convenient manner to keep the coupler the correct distance from the rail to comply with I. C. 0. requirements, and to ensure the stable support of the coupler in its positions and adapt the same to have free and easy movements between such positions.

The coupler is adapted when swung outwardly to coupling position to bear against an L-shaped upright 23 which may form a component part of the partition 9, and which serves to limit the outward swinging movement of the coupler and to maintain it in coupling position. The coupler is adapted to be manually swung inwardly and outwardly by means of a hand loop 24 provided on its knuckle side, and also provided on said side of the coupler is a loop 25 of such length as to not interfere with vertical adjustment of coupler, with which is engaged a retaining link 26 adapted, when the coupler is swung to open'position, to be engaged between keeper plates 21 and secured therebetween by a keeper pin 28, whereby the coupler will be held in coupling position,

while the link and pin connection 26 allows the necessary degrees of play of the coupler for required compensating movements between cou- The parts 24 and 25 may be welded to the coupler, in the -adaptation of the invention to a structure employing an old coupler, or made integral with the coupler in case of the use of new couplers to be employed. The coupler when swung inwardly is adapted to be held in position within its storage chamber by a retaining pin 29. This pin 29 is permanently but loosely secured by a chain 30 to a part of the main structure and has a lower reduced stem portion 3| to seat within a receiving opening 32 in the bottom wall of the compartment l0 and a reduced stern portion 33 at its upper end which is of greater length than the stem 5 portion 3| and which is adapted to fit within an opening 34 in the top wall or deck plate of the housing. By this mode of connection the pin may be disengaged and temporarily removed from its normal position by raising and sliding it outwardly to first'disengage its stem 3|. from the opening 32, andthen tilting it forwardly and sliding it outwardly and downwardly to release its stem 33 from the opening 34, after which the coupler may be swung inwardly to housed position and the pin 29 replaced in an obvious manner to hold it in such position.

The pilot, indicated generally by the numeral 35, comprises a metal base frame portion 36, side frame pieces 31 and slats 38, which may be of usual fabricated or cast, type. The side pieces 31 are riveted or otherwise fastened to the end portions of the pilot beam and the base frame 36 and side plates 3! are further connected with and stayed from the beam by bracing elements 39 of any suitable construction and arrangement. The side plates 31 carry suitably constructed foot plates or steps 40 and at the center of the pilot the upper portions of the slats 38 are omitted so as to form a doorway M in line with the opening in the front of the coupler housing. This opening is adapted to be closed by a door 42, which may be of slatted type, and adapted when in,

closed position to form a complementary part of the pilot. This door, as shown, is carried at its upper edge by a hinge plate 43 connected by hinge members 44 to the top of the housing, so as to adapt the door 42 to be swung from the closed bracket support or reinforcement for the pilot.

elements as well as to provide a jamb' 46 at the bottom of the doorway 4| to which some of the slatsmay be secured and against which the closing edge of the door 42 may hear when in closed position. By this construction and arrangement of the pilot and its door it will be seen that the coupler and air and steam pipe connections, cocks and fittings when not in use may be completely enclosed and sheltered from physical injury and i the action of the elements and a smooth and pleasing construction of bumper and pilot at the front of the locomotive presented. The platform 45 carries cushioning bumpers 41 to cushion and prevent shock on the closing movement of the door 42.

The top or deck plate of the structure is provided with the usual brackets 48 in which the uncoupling lever 49 is journaled in the usual way,

said lever having operating handles 50 to adapt it to be manipulated at either side. This lever is provided at or near its central portion with a socket 5|, to receive a'tongue plate 52 on one end of an uncoupling arm 53, which arm is adapted to be detachably fastened to the lever by means of a fastening pin 54, the latter connectedto arm 53. This lever arm is connected by a chain 55 with the latch pin 56 of the coupler, whereby the latch pin may be retracted in the usual manner to effect the unlocking of the knuckle. The purpose of providing an operating arm which is detachable from the uncoupling lever is to permit such arm to be applied to the lever when its use is necessary for the latch knuckle releasing actions and removed from the lever when its use is not necessary, so that the arm may be stored in the compartment I0 and thus disposed where it will be protected from injury when not in service. The pin 54 and arm 53 with chain 55 attached and left connected to coupler are movable through a slot or opening-in the door 42, which slot or opening may be formed either by a space between the slats of the door or in any other manner.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be seen that my invention provides 'a pilot beam and coupler for the front ends of locomotives which ensures simplicity of construction, reduces the number of I working parts, and provides for the housing of the coupler and other service parts to protect them from damage by contact with objects or other injury by the weather when not in use, in which housed position the parts will also be concealed so that a pilot beam and pilot structure may be produced which will give a pleasing or smooth front appearance to reduce parasitic air resistance on ordinary locomotives and to adapt the structure for use in conjunction with streamlined locomotives or cars. The invention also provides for the mounting of the coupler in a way to secure ready support of the coupler and its adjustmentsto meet service requirements, as 'well as to secure free and easy swinging movements of the coupler between operative and in-' operative positions. It will be evident, of course,

that the structure reduces not only the cost of application but the cost of maintenance of the pilot portion and secures other important and [material advantages which will be evident to ,"those versed in the art. In practice it is to be understood that the bumper portion may be integral with or a separate casting from the deck plate or parts 3 and 4 of the structure,and that the arrangement of the chambers Ill and II may ber'reversed from that shown, that is to say, the coupler may swing to a closed position in the reverse direction to that herein set forth, and it will also be understood that the general features of construction and their relative arrangement may be varied as required in service within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advan-' tages of the invention. The beam and coupler structurewith or without the pilot, may be employed at the rear end of a tender, or locomotive, and the general features of the device may also be employed on any car or vehicle using a coupler of the character disclosed whenever it is desired to employ a coupler which may be swung inwardly and outwardly from an inoperative position to an operative position, in which inoperative between .the coupler and housing for locking the coupler; in projected position with freedom of movement for service play. g

2. Ar railway pilot beam having a coupler housing formed unitarily therewith, a coupler mount- 5 ed to swing horizontally on a vertical axis into and out of said housing, and means for locking the coupler in'projected position embodying a keeper on the housing, a link on the coupler, and a pin on the. housing engageable with the link and 1 keeper to forma loose connection to permit service play of the coupler.

3. A railway pilot beam having a coupler housing formed unitarily therewith, a reinforcing member connecting the top and bottom walls of 15 the housing; a coupler mounted to swing horizontally on' .a,vertical axis into and out of said recess, and means for locking the coupler iii projected position embodying a keeper member carried by said partition, a link having a loose 20. connection with the coupler, and a fastening member for engagement with the keeper and link.

4. In a, locomotive pilot and coupler, a pilot beam having a recess therein, a keeper in said recess, a coupler mounted to swing into and out of the recess, a handle on the coupler for swinging it, a link loosely connected to the coupler, and a fastening member for passage through the eye of the link and engagement with the keeper.

5. In a pilot and coupler structure, a pilot beam having a housing chamber open at the front thereof, apilot carried by the beam and having a doorway therein facing said open front of the chamber, a coupler mounted upon the beam to swing forwardly from the chamber through its open front and'the doorway to an operative position and to swing rearwardly from such position so as to lie when in its inoperative position in rear of said doorway and within the housing chamber, a door forming a complemental part 40 of the pilot movable to cover and uncover said doorway, an uncoupling lever mounted upon the top of the pilot beam, an arm carried by said beam, and a flexible connection between the arm and the latch pin of the coupler knuckle movable through an'aperture in the door.

6. In a pilot and coupler structure, a pilot beam having a housing chamber open at the front thereof, a pilot carried by the beam and having a doorway therein facing said open front of the chamber, a coupler mounted upon the beam to swing forwardly from the chamber through its open front and the doorway tov an operative position and to swing rearwardly from such position so as to lie when in its inoperative position in rear of said doorway and within the housing chamber, a door forming a complemental part of the pilot movable to cover and uncover said doorway, an uncoupling lever mounted upon the top of the pilot beam, and a connection between the latch of the coupler knuckle and the door including a flexible element connected to the latch andmovable through an aperture in the door and an arm detachably connected with the uncoupling lever so as to be removable for storage with the couplerin the housing chamber when the coupler is not in use.

FREDERICK H. EINWAECHTER 'JR. 

